"Dennis" WIP2

Here's an update on my portrait of my friend Dennis.  I'm still using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils but now switched to 4H, HB, and 2B leads as I work the skin texture.  Trying to kick my portrait work up a notch.  More to come soon!

Work in Progress - "Dennis"

Here's my line drawing to my newest portrait, "Dennis".

This is 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.  For my line drawing, I used a Pentel P205 mechanical pencil with a 2B lead.  I call this stage of my process the "ugly stage". My lines are drawn quickly and look like a two year old did them. I use my line drawing for placement of features only. I map out where I want everything, including light and shadow. This is the foundation of my portrait process. More to come soon!

"Maryna" Finished

Here is my completed portrait of "Maryna".  She's 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.

Maryna (Work in Progress)

here's a final update for tonight.  I can't step away from this, she's starting to haunt me...always wanting more attention.   I tweaked the shadows a bit more.   Gonna stop for tonight, my eyes are starting to burn.   More to come tomorrow!

Maryna Portrait Update

Here's an update on my portrait of Maryna.  I added her hair and will be making adjustment to the shadows.  For the hair in shadow, I used a 2B pencil.  For the lighter side, I used a 4H, 2H, H, and a B pencil.  I picked out the highlighted strands using a Tombow Mono Zero eraser stick.  More to come soon!  

Portrait of Maryna

I'm working on a bunch of commissioned portraits, here's a work in progress update of one of them, this is Maryna.  She is 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.  I'm using Prismacolor Torquoise Drawing Pencils 4H, 2H, H, B, 2B, and 6B leads.  No blending tools, just using the pencil making tiny tiny overlapping circular motions.  More to come!

2010 Street Glide Complete

Here's my finished commissioned drawing of a 2010 Harley Davidson Street Glide.  9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.

New Commission Piece - 2010 Harley Davidson Street Glide WIP

Here's a work in progress image of my newest commission piece, a 2010 Harley Davidson Street Glide.  This is 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.   For pencils, I'm using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils with a 2B lead. More to come soon!!

Harley Davidson Road King Drawing

Here's my newest commissioned piece, a Harley Davidson Road King.  9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.  

"Deja"

Here's my latest commissioned piece.  She is 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Velłum paper.  This was done with a Pentel P205 mechanical pencil with a 2B lead.  I blended with a medium tortillion, soft tissue paper, and a 2 inch Hake brush.  The white highlights in the eyes, above the nose, and in the whiskers were created using a Uniball Stigno white gel pen.

    

                               

Walter WIP 5

Here's an update on my portrait of Walter. He's almost finished....I'm just making some adjustments and then I need to sign him and prepare him for delivery. My next update will be my final completed drawing.

Walter WIP 4

Here's an update on my portrait of Walter.  I'm working on building up the fur on his body.  I'm hoping to finished with this tonight.  More to come soon!

"Walter" WIP 3

Here’s an update on my portrait of “Walter”. I have his head just about finished and added his whiskers using a Uniball Signo gel pen with white ink. More to come soon

"Walter" WIP 2

Here's an update on my portrait of "Walter".   I'm using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils with 4H, 2H, H, and 2B leads.  No blending tools are being using.  I love using the Vellum paper, I love how it just grabs the graphite.  More to come soon!

"Walter" WIP1

Here is the start of my newest commissioned portrait.  This is "Walter", he 11 x 14 graphite in Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper.  

I'm not using any blending tools with this one and I'm using Bristol Vellum for the first time.  I must say that I'm loving the paper right now.  I love the way the paper holds the graphite.  I will be using this paper more often.  

For pencils, I'm using a Pentel P205 mechanical pencil with a 2B lead.  

More to come soon!

"Walter"

I got my line drawing of my latest commission piece. This is "Walter" 11 x 14 graphite on Bristol Vellum paper. I used a 2B Derwent Drawing pencil.

My line drawing was done initially on plain printer paper. I do a lot of erasing and measuring and don't like to do this on my good drawing paper because it's expensive. Once I have my line drawing done and everything where I want it to be, I tape it to the back of my drawing paper and transfer the line drawing to my actual drawing paper. This way I don't have to worry about damaging my good paper during my measuring, planning, and erasing phase.

I call this initial phase the "ugly stage" of my drawing process. The lines are drawn quickly and look like a two year old did it. This is how I start all of my portraits. The line drawing helps me to map out everything, to get all the features placed properly. My line drawing is the foundation of the portrait, without a solid foundation, the likeness isn't going to be captured. Just like when a building is being built, the walls and windows won't go up until the foundation is laid out and is able to hold the walls and roof of the house, without a solid foundation, the house won't be able to stand - same with my line drawing. Now I can add tone and texture to bring Walter to life on paper.

More to come soon!

Commission WIP

Here's a close up of my newest commissioned portrait.  I thought I'd share the detail.  

Commission WIP 2

Here's a small update to my latest commissioned piece.

New Commissioned Piece

Here's a work in progress of my newest portrait which is a commissioned portrait.  This is 14 x 17 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.  So far I'm using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils with 4H, 2H, H, B, and 2B leads.  More to come soon!

Jennifer Beals

Here is my completed drawing of actress Jennifer Beals.  This is 9 x 12 graphite in Bristol Smooth paper.

Jennifer Beals (born December 19, 1963) is an American actress and a former teen model. She played the role of Alexandra "Alex" Owens in the 1983 film Flashdance, and appeared as Bette Porter on the Showtime drama series The L Word.  She earned an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination for the former. She has appeared in more than 50 films.

                                       

      

Jennifer Beals WIP 4

Here's an update on my portrait of Jennifer Beals.  I'm working on her beautiful hair, she sure has a lot of it.  I'm working on building depth and body.  I kind of feel like Vidal Sassoon with a pencil, lol.

Jennifer Beals WIP 3

Here's an update on my portrait of actress Jennifer Beals. I'm working on her hair, adding depth and body. I draw in each strand then blend using soft bathroom tissue paper. I take a Mono Zero Eraser Pen which I cut a piece off at an angle so that I get nice thin sharp edge. This allows me to "draw" the highlighted hairs. More to come soon!

Jennifer Beals Portrait WIP 2

Here's an update on my newest portrait of actress Jennifer Beals. I have her face just about finished. This is 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper. I'm using Derwent Drawing pencils with 4H, 2H, H, B, and 2B leads. I'm blending using q-tips cotton swabs and soft bathroom tissue paper. I picked out the highlights on her face using a kneaded eraser which I dabbed over the highlights to remove the graphite. The hair is being created by drawing the strands using a 2B pencil and blending using tissue paper then darkening the area again. I layer my graphite until I get the desired tone. 

 

 More to come soon!

Portrait of Jennifer Beals (WIP)

Here's a work in progress image of my latest portrait of actress Jennifer Beals.  This is 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.  For pencils, I'm using Derwent Drawing pencils with 4H, 2H, H, B, and 2B leads.   For blending of the skin tone, I'm using soft bathroom tissue paper and a blending stump.  I also use a Hake Brush, which serves to not only wipe away any debris, but also it gives a nice soft blend/polished look; which I personally like in my work.   The highlights in her hair was done but "drawing" each of the highlighted strands with a Tombow Mono Zero Eraser Pen and the highlights on her face was done by negatively drawing with a kneaded eraser.

So far, this is about 30 hours worth of work.  I'll be working on her hair more not, giving it depth and body.  I will also be making adjustments to the darker tones in her face once I start drawing in more hair to give more contrast to her face.   More to come soon!